Sydney's indigenous stars may have been racially vilified in two separate incidents on Sunday, as the Western Bulldogs cancelled the membership of a fan for alleged racist taunts directed towards Lance Franklin and Adam Goodes.

Police have spoken to officials from the Swans, who advised them the players had not heard the comments. Photo: Getty Images

As Franklin publicly applauded fans for reporting abuse to Etihad Stadium authorities, it has emerged the Bulldogs have launched an investigation into a second member over another matter.

Fairfax Media can confirm that Franklin and Goodes were the victims in one incident that resulted in a 70-year-old man from Newport, in Melbourne's inner-west, being evicted from the ground and fined by police for offensive behaviour. Neither Franklin nor Goodes heard the remark.

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The man has since had his Bulldogs membership stripped by the club, based on evidence obtained from reports made by fans to police and Etihad Stadium officials.

However, the Bulldogs are investigating the circumstances over alleged abuse directed towards Swans players by another member, who was reported to the club by other Bulldogs members. No complaint, however, was made to venue staff or police.

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This person has made "strong denials" to the club when contacted on Monday but will also have their membership scrapped if found to have acted improperly.

The Bulldogs issued a strongly worded apology on their website on Monday.

"For a second time this season, our club has been embarrassed and diminished by the actions of members who have vented racist abuse at opposition players," said club president Peter Gordon.

"This abuse is anathema to the values and the spirit of our club. We apologise to the indigenous players of the AFL and to the broader AFL community for this unacceptable and repugnant behaviour."

Although the Swans were not made aware of the second incident, they learned of the abuse directed at Goodes and Franklin via an AFL official after the game on Sunday.

Franklin, who was abused by a fan in Tasmania in 2011 when playing for Hawthorn, spoke of his frustration at the abuse.

"It's disappointing that it's still happening in the community, especially at a football game. It's obviously very good that the crowd's come forward and spoken out," Franklin said.

"I think it's definitely something that needs to be cut out of the game and the more we can teach people not to be racist the better for the game. I think it's a positive and a step forward for the AFL."

For Goodes, the Australian of the Year, it is the third time in the past 15 months, and second time this season, he has been abused by a fan during a game.

Essendon cancelled the membership of one member earlier this year for abusing Goodes, which was reported by Bombers members to Etihad Stadium management.

Last year, Goodes identified a 13-year-old Collingwood supporter who called him an ape during a match at the MCG in the AFL's Indigenous Round.

The issue escalated days later when Collingwood president Eddie McGuire made an on-air gaffe suggesting Goodes be used to promote the musical King Kong. McGuire subsequently apologised.

Goodes said before this year's Indigenous Round that he would continue to speak out on issues of race.

"It's not the first time I've had to go through something like this," Goodes said. "Yeah, I'm putting my neck out there and, at times, people want to knock it off.

"But I'll continue putting my neck out there because there are so many good people out there who are supporting the messages, who want to see some changes.

"It's not a comfortable thing to talk about; definitely it's not a comfortable thing to go through. It's going to cause a stir and it's going to cause people to have conversations, but let's talk about it ... Once we talk about it, see what it's like, then we can self-regulate and say that's not right.

"Unfortunately, some people don't want to have those conversations - they might not be ready. But I'm definitely ready."